The concentration in Science Education in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Curriculum and Instruction at Arizona State University provides opportunities for research and study in the teaching and learning of science in the middle school, high school, and higher education. Candidates may concentrate in the study of students’ science thinking, the design of learning and teaching environments, and the development and application of technologies for science learning. Program mentors hail from the College of Education and from the Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics Departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The Science Education Ph.D. Program is designed to develop students’ expertise in research on the teaching and learning of science. The goals of the program are to:
- Prepare students to critically analyze and conduct research in their area of specialization;
- Prepare students to work in collaborative, interdisciplinary work; and
- Prepare students to carry out research, teaching, and service activities associated with faculty positions at institutions of higher education and other professional positions.
Graduates of the Science Education concentration are prepared to take competitive positions in top-tier research institutions as exemplary scholars and teachers. Some graduates choose positions in teacher education, while others work in the areas of technology, student learning, or science instruction in higher education.